LEED v4 education: location and transportation | U.S. Green Building Council

The LEED v4 education suite focus this February is on location and transportation. This category (new to BD+C, ID+C and O+M projects) rewards thoughtful decisions about building location, with credits that encourage compact development, alternative transportation and connection to amenities such as restaurants and parks. In previous versions of LEED, location and transportation were addressed in the sustainable sites category. In LEED v4, sustainable sites specifically addresses on-site ecosystem services, while location and transportation considers the existing features of the surrounding community and how this infrastructure affects occupants’ behavior and environmental performance.

Website: http://www.greenbuildingacademy.co/leed-ga-v4/

Source:  http://www.usgbc.org

Study Tips: LEED V4 Professional Exam

LEED v4 is here, and beginning in June 2014 LEED professional exams will evolve to reflect the the LEED v4 rating system.

Here's a quick refresh on how this will play out for the LEED Green Associate, BD+C, ID+C and O+M exams (exams for Homes and ND will feature v4 content in 2015):

• Last day to take a LEED 2009 exam: June 15, 2014
• First day to take a  LEED v4 exam: June 30, 2014
• No tests will be administered from June 16-29, 2014

We know you want to be well-prepared for your exam so you pass on your first try — and we want you to be well-prepared too!

Here are some study tips to help you prepare:

1. Test specs and sample questions: Check out the test specs and sample questions in the LEED v4 candidate handbooks. Click the images below to access each handbook.

      2. LEED Core Concepts Guide and Reference Guides: These LEED v4 guides provide a comprehensive overview of how to navigate a LEED project from registration through certification. Click the images below to access each guide.

       3. LEED v4 courses: Understand credit category, prerequisites and credits, and differences specific to project type adaptations.

•       Introduction to LEED v4 series
•       LEED v4 Rating System Review (BD+C and ID+C) series
•      LEED v4 Rating System Review (O+M)
•      LEED v4 web-based reference guide
•      LEED v4 exam prep: Coming fall 2014. USGBC is supporting Education Partners to make        sure they have the resources, knowledge, and skills to produce best-in-class education. This      fall, Education Partners will release LEED v4 study materials.

References site: http://www.greenbuildingacademy.co/discussion/leed-ap-bdc-exam-qa/a-multinational-automobile-manufacturing-company/

For more information visit us @ greenbuildingacademy.co


Source: http://www.usgbc.org

LEED Continuing Education - Consulting, Engineering, Green Buildings

To purchase LEED continuing education click here.

LEED education does not end when you pass the exam. After you’ve changed your email signature to reflect your new professional credential and rewarded yourself in any other self-indulgent ways, it’s time to start thinking about what you want to learn next. In order for a LEED Green Associate or LEED AP+ (with specialty) to remain in good standing with the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI) and the green building community at large, we must continue our education. Yes, your new credential tells the world you are proficient in all things LEED and green building-related. Yet, the world and the green building industry don’t stop evolving and neither should you. LEED professionals need to maintain their competitive edge and continuously improve their level of knowledge.

According to GBCI, a LEED professional credential signifies that you are a leader in the field and an active participant in the green building movement who contributes expertise to the design, construction, operations and maintenance of buildings and neighborhoods that save energy, use fewer resources, reduce pollution, and contribute to healthier environments for their occupants and the community. GBCI recommends using the LEED credit categories as a guideline to help you determine what constitutes a green building topic:

• Sustainable Sites encourages strategies that minimize the impact on ecosystems and water resources.
• Water Efficiency promotes smarter use of water, inside and out, to reduce potable water consumption.
• Energy & Atmosphere promotes better building energy performance through innovative strategies.
• Materials & Resources encourages using sustainable building materials and reducing waste.
• Indoor Environmental Quality promotes better indoor air quality and access to daylight and views.

With an intention to ensure a high level of competency, the GBCI employs a formal Credential Maintenance Program (CMP) and requires Continuing Education (CE) hours. Within 2 years of achieving your credential, LEED Green Associate professionals must complete 15 CE hours (12 “General” + 3 “LEED Specific”) or 30 CE hours (24 “General” and 6 “LEED Specific”) as a LEED Accredited Professional with specialty (LEED AP BD+C or O+M, for example). Each additional specialty requires 6 unique “LEED Specific” hours. The self-reporting program is accessible through your account, by clicking here. If you do not keep up with the CE hours, your credential will lapse and you’d have to test on the latest material to earn the credential(s) again. The latest version of LEED (v4) is now in effect and all of our classes and materials have been updated.

GBCI has narrowed it down to four main ways to earn your hours:

1. Education

          Preferred courses and presentations from registered providers (GBCI approved)
         Typically 1 CE hour per hour of education
         Self-reported courses and presentations
         Greenbuild Expo classes
   
     2. LEED Project Experience

        Up to 10 hours; 1 hour per credit as a team member; 2 hours per credit as Project Administrator

     3. Authorship (credited contribution to a print or digital publication on a sustainability topic)

        3 CE hours per published article and 10 CE hours for a published book

     4. Volunteering (with USGBC, GBCI, a USGBC Chapter, or a LEED-related non-profit organization)

       Can only use this path for up to 50% of your total CE hours.
       1 CE hour for 1 hour volunteered

It is suggested that you log your hours as you earn them. With the self-reporting compliance that GBCI has laid out, only a small percentage of professionals are audited and at that time you would need to provide more back-up like a certificate of completion of an online or in-person class. Fifteen (15) or 30 hours over two years isn’t too bad. One of our Principals, Charlie Cichetti [LEED AP BD+C, ID+C, O+M, ND, and Homes] has to do 54 hours for all of his letters over a two-year period! He was one of the very first professionals in 2009 to earn all of the new LEED credentials. Currently, according to the LEED GBCI Professional Directory, Charlie is one of only 15 professionals in the world that hold all of the LEED credentials. Log as you go, work on LEED projects (if possible), attend conferences, and take some of our LEED-specific courses. Did you write a white paper or create a class recently on a sustainability topic? That may count, also.

SIG is next to you at every step of your green building journey. In the future, when LEED evolves, we grow too. Here are just a few examples of our GBCI-approved continuing education topics:

• Integrating Photovoltaics in Buildings for Renewable Energy Production – 2.5 hours
•     20 Things You Need to Know About LEED v4 – 1 hour
•     Blue Roofs: Cutting Edge Stormwater Management – 1.5 hours
•     30 LEED EBO&M Mistakes to Avoid – 1 hour
•     Demand Response: Getting Paid to Reduce Electricity – 1.5 hours
•     Regenerative Green House Gas Inventories: Carbon Offsets from Forestry – 1.5 hours
•     Implementing Indoor Water Use Reduction – 2 hours
•     Green Leasing – 1 hour
•     Location and Linkages Implementing Bicycle Network, Storage, & Shower Rooms – 2 hours
•     Outdoor Water Use Reduction Using Xeriscaping – 2 hours

Just as the strongest ecosystem is a diverse one, we offer a wide range of special topics and delivery methods. For instant gratification, order an article online for easy reading. To meet the needs of your whole office, schedule a lunch & learn or even half day workshop with one of our expert trainers.

At SIG, we are committed to helping our staff keep current with trends and green building research by sending them to the annual Greenbuild Expo hosted by the USGBC. We’d love to meet you there. If you can’t make it, we’ll come to you. Let us design a custom education course to suit the needs of your journey. What we’ve learned on our journey is that the more you dig in, the clearer and easier it all becomes, and we’ll advance the green building industry together.

To purchase LEED continuing education click here


Helpful links:

http://www.greenbuildingacademy.co/discussion/

http://www.gbci.org/main-nav/professional-credentials/resources/at-a-glance.aspx


Source: http://www.gbes.com/

Update Yourself on LEED V4 Green Associate and Earn free LEED Specific CE Hrs

LEED Professionals are required to pursue Continuing Education in order to maintain their LEED Credentials. LEED Green Associates have to purse 15 CE Hrs out of which 3 should be LEED specific. LEED APs should have to pursue 30 CE Hrs out of which 6 should be LEED specific.

Very often we receive enquires on where to get CE Hrs for Credential Maintenance Programs. In response to the enquiries we have posted a video on Things to do after the exam. With the release of LEED V4, here is an excellent opportunity to update yourself on LEED V4 and earn free LEED Specific CE Hrs.

More details: http://www.greenbuildingacademy.co/

The screenshots below are self explanatory. Please do note that the screenshots are taken when we were writing the post, USGBC may change the web layout. You may experience a different screen layout later. Also screen layout may change based on your membership and subscriptions.

Step 1: Login to www.usgbc.org

Step 2: Follow the link “Education” as in the screenshot below

Step 3: Follow the link “Education @USGBC” as in the screenshot below

Step 4: You can find lot of free LEED Specific CE hours in this page as shown below; you have access to anything which is not priced.

Step 5: View the video content and take the quiz when you complete.

Congratulations, you have earned free LEED Specific CE Hr.

The CE Hrs are automatically reported. Check your profile for updated CE Hrs reported; refer to the following screen shot.

If you need any information visit us @ LEED green associate v4 

Click Discussion Topic

How I passed LEED Green Associate V4 Examination in 4 weeks?

In this post I am going to explain how I passed LEED Green Associate Examination within 4 weeks and I will try to answer some of the common questions asked by candidates at the beginning stage of their preparation like,

1. How to get started?
2. Whether to go for self-study or an online course?
3. How to prepare for the exam?

First of all, I would like to introduce myself. I am Venkatesh, a fresh graduate in Mechanical Engineering with no experience in construction sector. I have joined with Green Building Academy as Trainee-Sustainability Engineer on 30/11/2015. I was instructed by my management to go for LEED Green Associate v4 Examination and I was promised for an increment in my salary if I pass.

Step 1: Getting Started

After decided to go for the examination, the first think I did was to understand basic things about the examination like number of questions, passing score, exam duration, etc. The following videos gave me very good information regarding the examination. I shared the links with you here:

1. Introduction to Green Buildings and LEED Credentials -

http://www.greenbuildingacademy.co/leed-ga-v4/introduction/video/

2. Introduction to LEED Rating Systems - http://www.greenbuildingacademy.co/leed-ga-v4/leed-rating-systems/video/

The official examination information is published in LEED Green Associate Candidate Handbook -

 http://in.usgbc.org/resources/leed-v4-green-associate-candidate-handbook

Step 2: Deciding whether to go for self-study or an online course?

A common confusion usually arise in a candidate’s mind is whether to do self-studyor to take a course. In my case I was provided with free online access for LEED Green Associate v4 Made Easy – Online course offered by Green Building Academy. My advice is to take a LEED Green Associate Training Course which was used and tested by many candidates. Online courses available in the market will cost around 150 USD and our online course is available at 55 USD. Free online resources available in the internet are often outdated and misleading. So, in order to limit your time and effort towards preparation I strongly recommend taking an online course or a classroom course(depending on your budget and time). Class room course may cost up to USD 400.
Preparing for the Exam:

I strongly recommend candidates to prepare in the following sequence of topics:

1. Location and Transportation
2. Sustainable Sites
3. Water Efficiency
4. Energy Efficiency
5. Materials & Resources
6. Indoor Environmental Quality
7. Integrative Process
8. Bonus Categories
9. Certification Process

One of the common mistakes people doing in preparation is that, spending lot of time in Integrative Process and Certification Process at the beginning stages of preparation. In my perspective these topics can be well understood after studying all the technical parts. Time required to complete the above topics varies with discipline. However 3 weeks will be sufficient enough to cover all the topics. Give yourself at least 7-10 days for revising.

Step 4: Applying and Scheduling for the Examination

I recommend you to schedule your examination when you are 50% prepared. Scheduling your examination will actually speed-up your process and will provide enough time for you to get psychologically prepared. Remember solving more and more practice questions is one of the keys to success. Take some mock tests available in the internet. It will make you familiar with the exam interface and it will avoid confusions during examination. Applying and Scheduling procedures for the examination are well explained in the video link provided below

http://www.greenbuildingacademy.co/leed-ga-v4/exam-registration/.

I passed the examination on Dec 28, 2015 with a score of 188 exactly on 29th day from the starting date of my preparation.

Question:

A Multinational Automobile manufacturing company has planned to establish one of its production plants in California. During site assessment, which of the following codes the project team has to refer to find if the project site is a farmland?

a) Environmental Protection Agency
b) Environmental Impact Assessment Authority
c) SCAQMD
d) Code of Federal Regulations

For more details visit us @ greenbuildingacademy.co

The LEED AP BD+C Requirements

LEED Accredited Professionals (LEED APs) are renowned sustainability experts who are able to contribute to the rating of buildings with the various LEED systems and mentor all the other team members. By obtaining your LEED AP BD+C designation, you are not only making a wise career investment, you are taking an essential step to remain competitive in a rapidly changing industry and positioning yourself for the high demand green job market.

The most accepted and recognizable Green Building Credential in the world

There are more than 141,000 LEED APs as of Jan 2010, with more being certified every day at an unparalleled rate. While LEED APs have always been a illustrious credential, many employers now want AP accreditation for new hires and are requiring only AP accreditation as part of their staff education goals. The demand for LEED APs has grown significantly as the federal government, states and cities and municipalities require LEED certification for all new government operated offices and facilities, and will remain in this continued growth path as the need for energy efficiency and to limit global warming continues.

Credentialing Structure

Version 3.0 credential process features multiple tiers of accreditation that exhibit both level of proficiency and areas of interest and specialization. The first step is the LEED Green Associate. This credential covers the core concept and sustainability plus a basic understanding of the USGBC, GBCI and how buildings are certified. This is also the Exam Part #1 of the AP specialty exams and By itself, it is very beneficial for those seeking to show a general working knowledge of Leadership in Energy in Environmental Design and Sustainable Green Building methods. For individuals who take and pass the GA examination are allowed to use the LEED GA or LEED Green Associate designation and accredited logo on your stationary, professional resume and your advertising.

The second level is the LEED AP BD+C with a specialty. You have the option of five separate exams that prove proficiency in the advanced knowledge of sustainable and green building methods in a specialty field such as Building Design & Construction, Interior Design & Construction, Green Building Operation & Maintenance, Homes or Neighborhood Development. You are only required to pass one of the specialty exams (in addition to the LEED Green Associate exam) to make use of the LEED Accredited Professional or LEED AP acronym as part of your title on your stationary, professional resume and your advertising. Some people have pursued multiple LEED Accredited Professional specialties to prove proficiency to perspective employer and customers.

LEED Accredited Professionals are considered experts in the field distinguished by their many years of green building and LEED experience. The exact requirements of this designation have not been identified at the date of this article.

Tier 1: LEED Green Associate

To obtain the LEED Green Associate (LEED GA), you must take and pass a 2-hour, 100 question multiple choice exam which will test your understanding of green building and core concepts.

LEED Green Associate Exam Eligibility

To submit an application for the LEED Green Associate exam, you must meet or exceed at least one of the following prerequisites:

· Attendance of an green education program that addresses sustainable building principles, OR
· Documented involvement on a LEED-registered project

The PTL Green Associate class qualifies you to sit for the LEED Green Associate exam. After your class, you will be provided with an electronic certificate of completion that you can submit with your application.

Tier II: LEED AP with Specialty

To acquire the LEED AP with Specialty credential, you must pass a 2-hour, 100 question multiple choice exam which will test your understanding of the LEED AP specialty you are pursuing. The LEED AP with Specialty credential is for individuals wanting to demonstrate an deep knowledge of green construction practices; it also will exhibit the ability to specialize in a individual LEED Rating System.

LEED AP Exam

The LEED green associate training and LEED AP exams can be taken at the same time or may also be taken in separate appointments. You do not need to have already passed the LEED Green Associate exam to submit an application for the LEED Accredited Professional exam. However, you must either be a legacy LEED AP or have the LEED GA credential to acquire the LEED AP accreditation.

LEED AP Eligibility

To take the LEED AP exams, you must have prior experience with a LEED Certification Projects within the last three years of your application submittal date. This documented work experience must be in the form of a letter of attestation from a supervisor, client, or project manager and must describe your involvement on the LEED Project as a consultant, contracted worker, member of the LEED Project Team, LEED Homes Provider, LEED Commercial Reviewer, LEED Homes Green Verifier, or staff member of a Certifying Body (CB).

The PTL LEED Project Management Experience class will meet this prerequisite and qualify you to take the LEED AP exam.

For more details visit us @ LEED AP BD+C study guide

Note: This content was originally shared in http://www.ptlexamprep.com/